Cyberchondria is a colloquial term now being used to describe those, not unlike myself, who use medical information on the Internet to obsessively misdiagnose a minor illness or symptom. Yep, I suffer from what my friends like to refer to as "Pooty Paranoia," a term they've coined to describe my chronic fear of contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). That being said, one would think I'd buy condoms in bulk at Costco, and strategically place them throughout my house, my pocket-heavy wardrobe, and my car. But alas I am human, and have gotten lost in the "moment" a time or three in my life, blowing both condoms and caution to the wind. Invariably, weeks if not months later, after suffering for hours on end in front of WebMd looking at pictures that still haunt my dreams, I will go to my doctor assuming the worst, only to walk out feeling guilty as hell for having already accused an ex-lover of giving me one of those gifts that just keeps on giving. Whoops. The upside, however - and there is an upside - is that thanks to the information highway, I now know just about all there is to know surrounding the treatment of Genital Herpes among other STDs I have at some point convinced myself of having.

According to the Center for Disease Control, one in five people - for a rough total of 45 million over the age of twelve - are living with genital herpes, for which there is no current cure. Even with treatment, it is still possible to spread the Herpes virus. In August 2006, however, according to a Fox News report, the FDA approved "Famvir (famciclovir) as the first and only one-day antiviral treatment for recurrent genital herpes and cold sores." Although it has been available since 1994, the new Single-Day Famvir has the power to stop or shorten an outbreak if taken within hours of the first symptoms. Potential side effects include headaches, diarrhea, and nausea. It is sold by prescription only.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that, "genital herpes, a sexually transmitted disease (STD), is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). HSV is in the same family of viruses that causes chickenpox, shingles and mononucleosis. There are two types of HSV: HSV-1, which infects 80 percent of the U.S. population, usually appears on the lips in cold sores; HSV-2 is usually found in the genital area. However, if a person with HSV-1 oral herpes (cold sores) performs oral sex, it is possible for the partner to get HSV-1 genital herpes. And HSV-2 can infect the mouth through oral sex. HSV can cause sores, or lesions, to appear in and around the vaginal area and within the cervix in women, and on the penis and scrotum in men. Both males and females may also get lesions in the urinary tract, around the anal opening, on the buttocks or thighs, and sometimes on other parts of the body."

In 1985, the FDA approved Zovirax (acyclovir), the first genital herpes drug, available by prescription only in both an oral tablet and topical cream. Oral doses vary according to type of herpes infection. It is also now offered in a generic form. Valtrex (valacyclovir) is a once-daily medication that has also been clinically proven to reduce the number of outbreaks. Potential side effects include headache, nausea, stomach pain, cold, and sore throat.

If you suffer from genital herpes, contact your doctor to determine which treatment is right for you.